Hector Almaguer
Encyclopedia
Hector Almaguer is a musician, writer, producer and record executive whose work has won a Clio Award and has been Grammy nominated.
from the University of Miami
. He spent about twelve years as a record producer
with his production company Mor 2 D'Pop Productions, a music publisher through Rhythm Time Publishing, BonVox Music and NCR Publishing and an entrepreneur through his record label Next Century Records distributed by BMG
with his long time music collaborator Enrique "Kiki" Garcia (best known as one of the original members of Miami Sound Machine and writer of hits like "Conga
", "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
", "123" and "Dr. Beat
")
Almaguer worked with some of Latin pop
's biggest names including Julio Iglesias
, Chayanne
, Azucar Moreno
and José Luis Rodríguez
(p/k/a El Puma) and lived in Dubai
, UAE and London, England and Miami where he worked as a DJ in some of those cities most important clubs at the time.
Hector Almaguer tells the story of how in the middle of a very successful music career, he felt his skills on the business side were lacking and it was then he decided to attend law school. He explained "I wanted to be the best music business executive possible, and at that point of my career, I was dealing more and more with the major labels, other music publishers, licensing our music worldwide, dealing with artist managers and it was getting pretty thick. I knew how to make music, but the contract
s left me feeling like I wasn’t in the game like I needed to be." So, while running these very successful music businesses, Hector Almaguer attended law school at the University of Miami and emphasized his studies there in intellectual property.
Soon after graduating Hector Almaguer opened his own law practice representing other musicians, writers, record labels and producers. His clients say that his experience gave him an insight that most lawyers simply don’t have. From there he went into the international television industry heading the business affairs department at HBO Latin America Group. Among other accomplishments there, he developed and created rights clearance processes and procedures for original programming produced internationally before accepting the position as the Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Universal Music Latin America
.
When asked why he would leave a very favorable and growing industry in television to go to the music industry, he simply responds, "I'm a musician and going to Universal is like coming home. Right now this industry is full of challenges but these are very exciting times and there will be new opportunities to make sure that artists as well as the thousands of people who earn their living in this industry can keep earning a living. After all, music is like air, I can’t imagine living without either one and I believe that there are a lot people who feel the same way."
Biography
Almaguer received an undergraduate degree in Studio Music and JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. He spent about twelve years as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
with his production company Mor 2 D'Pop Productions, a music publisher through Rhythm Time Publishing, BonVox Music and NCR Publishing and an entrepreneur through his record label Next Century Records distributed by BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
with his long time music collaborator Enrique "Kiki" Garcia (best known as one of the original members of Miami Sound Machine and writer of hits like "Conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
", "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" is a song written by Enrique Garcia and Gloria Estefan, and released by Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine in 1987 as the lead single from the album Let it Loose ....
", "123" and "Dr. Beat
Dr. Beat
"Dr. Beat" is the first international single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their first English language but eighth studio album overall Eyes Of Innocence. The single was released worldwide in 1984 becoming a top success across Europe where the album...
")
Almaguer worked with some of Latin pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
's biggest names including Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
, Chayanne
Chayanne
Elmer Figueroa Arce , best known under the stage name Chayanne, is a Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor. As a solo artist, Chayanne has released 21 solo-albums and sold over 20 million albums worldwide.-Early life:...
, Azucar Moreno
Azúcar Moreno
Azúcar Moreno was a famous Spanish music duo who have sold more than 3 million albums and singles since 1985 domestically, and became famous in Europe, the United States and Latin America in the 1990s, with approximately 10 million albums sold worldwide.-Biography:Composed by sisters Antonia and...
and José Luis Rodríguez
José Luis Rodríguez
José Luis Rodríguez may refer to:*José Luis Rodríguez , , former Argentine football striker*José Luis Rodríguez González , El Puma, , Venezuelan singer and actor...
(p/k/a El Puma) and lived in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, UAE and London, England and Miami where he worked as a DJ in some of those cities most important clubs at the time.
Hector Almaguer tells the story of how in the middle of a very successful music career, he felt his skills on the business side were lacking and it was then he decided to attend law school. He explained "I wanted to be the best music business executive possible, and at that point of my career, I was dealing more and more with the major labels, other music publishers, licensing our music worldwide, dealing with artist managers and it was getting pretty thick. I knew how to make music, but the contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
s left me feeling like I wasn’t in the game like I needed to be." So, while running these very successful music businesses, Hector Almaguer attended law school at the University of Miami and emphasized his studies there in intellectual property.
Soon after graduating Hector Almaguer opened his own law practice representing other musicians, writers, record labels and producers. His clients say that his experience gave him an insight that most lawyers simply don’t have. From there he went into the international television industry heading the business affairs department at HBO Latin America Group. Among other accomplishments there, he developed and created rights clearance processes and procedures for original programming produced internationally before accepting the position as the Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Universal Music Latin America
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
When asked why he would leave a very favorable and growing industry in television to go to the music industry, he simply responds, "I'm a musician and going to Universal is like coming home. Right now this industry is full of challenges but these are very exciting times and there will be new opportunities to make sure that artists as well as the thousands of people who earn their living in this industry can keep earning a living. After all, music is like air, I can’t imagine living without either one and I believe that there are a lot people who feel the same way."